While understanding the nature of the church age (as observed in last week’s session) is important to the interpretation of the letters to the seven churches, another very important interpretive principle is that of “context.” This week’s video will examine the context of the book of Revelation, that the proper interpretation of the letters to the churches may be achieved, and the message of the letters may reach its intended mark: the church age at large.

Today begins another new study series on the Video Blog area of Returningking.com. This series, currently being preached at First Baptist Church in Needville, TX, is an exegetical study of the book of Hebrews.

Any time a biblical book is studied, several questions are first asked concerning the author, recipients, dates and local scenarios. Understanding as many of these answers as is possible is very helpful to the grasping of the context of a book.

Today’s study begins week one of background work for the book of Hebrews.

(This is a continuation of the “Interpreting The Bible“ video blog series. This post assumes the prerequisite watching of earlier videos in the series. Click the link above to watch the entire series up to this week’s installment.)

Unlike Western poetry, Hebrew poetry is not fashioned with rhythm and rhyme, but with a device known as parallelism. Today’s study focuses on the nature of parallelism so that the biblical student may rightly divide poetic passages in scripture.

Today begins a new study series on the Video Blog area of Returningking.com. This series, currently being preached at First Baptist Church in Needville, TX, is an examination of the Seven Churches which the book of Revelation is written to in Asia Minor.

The title of the series, however, is not “The Seven Churches of Asia Minor,” but rather “The Seven Churches,” because once one begins interpretational work on the book of Revelation it becomes clear that the seven churches do not only represent the seven historical churches whose names are written on the letter. Rather, these seven churches are seen throughout history, which is the context of the book of Revelation:

Revelation 1:19 (ESV) 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.

A new variety of church-growth movement is squarely upon us. It decisively attempts to illegitimize any attempt at “doctrinal wall-building” for fear of excluding those frankly, who are unwilling to believe. This sentiment has found itself at home in an increasing number of churches in recent years; being a boon to church growth (numerically) by removing those pesky doctrinal encumbrances which often cause people to seek membership elsewhere.

“Our very survival is at stake,” we are told. The church, it is suggested, is to be about “tearing down walls” rather than building them; having entered into a “new” church-age whereby we focus attention copiously on harmony with others rather than differences. Commonalities draw us together. Differences divide us. The church is to be a place of unity, fellowship and cohesion. Anything that combats such a state of unanimity is quickly expelled as discordant, contentious and sinful. (Sadly, about the only “sin” that can be agreed upon in our modern user-friendly church culture is that of being disruptive to the alliance of “group sentiment.”) Such division, of course, is seen as a direct path to the most horrific sin of all: exclusivism. Continue reading →

(This is a continuation of the “Interpreting The Bible“ video blog series. This post assumes the prerequisite watching of earlier videos in the series. Click the link above to watch the entire series up to this week’s installment.)

This week’s installation involves what is known as The Law of Recurrence. This principle exists throughout the scriptures as an event narrated in two or more “passes.” In such cases, frequently a story is told very generally, and then told again from the beginning but providing additional detail.

Not only is such recurrence very frequent in scripture, it is in fact the technique by which scripture begins itself in the account of creation. Many have seen this particular instance of recurrence as an argument for two separate creation accounts. Others have seen this recurrence as the very frequent literary device that it is: a story told in passes of varying detail and focus.

Today’s consideration of the law of recurrence includes a good deal of example from scripture to assist the interpreter in the understanding of the principle.

(This is a continuation of the “Interpreting The Bible“ video blog series. This post assumes the prerequisite watching of earlier videos in the series. Click the link above to watch the entire series up to this week’s installment.)

This week’s lesson focuses on a law known as “First Mention.” This law is simple in its principle, but profound in its application. This law essentially uses the concept of “precedent” to assist the biblical interpreter in the proper application of a theological term or truth. If, then, I know how a term or concept has been used earlier in scripture, I can properly interpret a later understanding of the same term or principle.